Theater chair



A. e. SADTER. THEATER CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I3. I922- 1,435,'m1, Patented Nov. 14, 1922.

Patented New. Ml, 1922.

PATENT @i i t titt.

THEATER CHAIR.

Application filed September 13, 1922.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ALFRED GEORGE SADLER, a citizen of the United States of lhnerica, residing at 38-40 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, in the State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia, manufacturer, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to the Construction of Theater Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention refers to theater chairs that are set closely together in rows with the narrowest space possible between the rows. To render easier the passage between the chairs, the seats of such chairs have been made selftilting so that, when unoccupied, the seats cant inwards and leave a wider passageway between the rows.

I have found that this passageway can be further widened by causing the backs of the chairs, which incline backwards into the passageway behind, to be moved forwards or inwards to an approximately perpendicular position when the chair is no longer occupied.

This I effect by mounting the chair back in such a way that it can be moved on its support in order that, when occupied, the back will assume its proper position in the chair, but when no longer occupied, it will be moved inwards by a spring or other means to assume a vertical position. The back will, further, move inwards, upon the occupant leaning forwards, thus continuing the support the same as when the occupant was leaning back in the chair and, at the same time, providing more space to permit of anyone passing behind the chair.

The mode I preferably employ is to mount the chair back on pintles that pivot in sockets on the chair standards, the latter being composed either of metal or wood. The pintle sockets or bosses are surrounded by a spring. one end. of which is attached to the back while the other end is in the standard. The tension of the spring is increased when the seat is occupied and its reaction,

after the occupant rises, will be suflicient to cant the back inwards, one spring only being necessary for the purpose. Stopping means are provided for limiting the move ments of the chair back in the chair.

In the accompanying drawing- Fig. 1 shows the improved chair in. side elevation, one of the metal standards having Serial No. 588,01 1.

been removed the better to show the seat and back.

Fig. 2 is a like view of a chair with wooden standards.

Fig. 3 illustrates the preferred mode of mounting the back of the chair in a standard, the metal socket being in section.

Fig. 4 is a plan of the arm rest and fragment of the back.

Fig. 5 shows the spring, the ends of which are attached to a standard and seat respectively, and

Fig. 6 is a plan of the arm rest on a wooden standard.

In the standard 7 the self-tilting seat 8 of commerce is mounted to cant inwards, according to the dotted lines, when not occupied, thus increasing the passageways be tween rows of chairs. The back 9 of the chair is pivotally mounted at each side in a hollow boss 10 on the standard 7 into which the pintles 11 on the back fit. A spring 12 is wound about the boss and one end is secured to the back 9 while the other is con nected to the standard 7. The back will cant backwards when the chair is in use by the occupier leaning against it and its backward movement will be limited by stops 13 on the standards 7. When not in use, the back will be moved inwards by the spring 12 to the position indicated by the dotted lines, and such movement will be limited either by special stops or by the back contacting with the inner rear corners of the arm rests 14, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6.

The chair, when no longer in use, will therefore be partially folded, with the back and seat within the space occupied by the standards, thus increasing the width of the passageway between the rows of chairs.

While I have described one way of mounting the chair back, other ways may be devised for canting it inwards when not in use. I have found, however, in carrying the invention into effect, that the use of the mode described and illustrated is successful in operation.

The seat 8 is pivotally mounted in the usual way between the standards on which the obtuse angled castings 15 are secured.

On these members are flanges upon which the seat rests and which limit its movements. The seat is rendered self-tilting by a similar spring or other convenient means.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is The combination in a theater chair having standards at each side with arm rests on the upper edges thereof, of a self-tilting back between the standards, pintles secured at each side of the back intermediate the top and bottom thereof, hollow bosses on the standards in which the pintles are limiting the throw of the back, comprising the rear inner corners of the arm rests. 15

In- Witness whereof I afiix my signature.

ALFRED GEORGE SADLER. 

